Baker Mayfield, Kevin Stefanski Test Positive For COVID-19

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns COVID-19 situation grows more dire with each day. On Wednesday, head coach Kevin Stefanski and quarterback Baker Mayfield tested positive for the virus.

The organization announced Stefanski's positive test on Wednesday morning and reports of Mayfield's test followed soon after. While the coach is feeling fine, the team said, both he and Baker will need to produce two negative COVID-19 tests before Saturday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders or neither can join the team.

Mayfield's positive test was first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter.

If Stefanski is forced to continue isolating, Browns' special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will serve as acting head coach.

Stefanski has been vaccinated and received a booster shot, the organization said in a statement.

In addition to Stefanski testing positive, acting running backs coach Ryan Cordell has also contracted the virus, the Browns announced.

COVID-19 has already wrought havoc on the Cleveland roster, with eight players testing positive for the virus this week. The eight COVID-19-positive players are: guard Drew Forbes, wide receiver Jarvis Landry, tight end Austin Hooper, guard Wyatt Teller, defensive end Takkarist McKinley, tackle Jedrick Wills, wide receive JoJo Natson, and tight end Ross Travis.

Northeast Ohio is in the midst of a COVID-19 surge. The Cleveland Clinic and other hospitals have delayed nonessential surgeries to preserve bed space and health officials are urging residents to get vaccinated and a booster shot. The omicron variant was recently sequenced by a Cleveland Clinic laboratory.

The Ohio Hospital Association said one in four hospitalized patients in Northeast Ohio are COVID-19 positive, and one in three patients in intensive care units have tested positive for the virus. There are currently 1,104 hospitalized Northeast Ohioans with COVID-19, the association said.